Marathon Madness

Bob Lowry was going to compete in a marathon. He called the number he heard on the radio and signed up with his 2 friends. He started running and was doing a good job, but 1/3 of the way through, he stopped and did not continue running for the duration of the race. However, his name appeared as one of the top runners in the newspaper the next day. How did he do that?

He did not take a shortcut or cheat in any way.
Hundreds of people finished the race.

Answer

He was running a marathon relay.
His friends continued for him after he ran the first 1/3. His team got first and his name was printed in the newspaper.Hide

i think i overlooked few areas..." the question mentioned bob lowry as top runner and not winner... it was never mentioned that he won the marathon.... so i came up with a conclusion that he must be a lengendary runner who came there as a guest role and ran for 1/3 of the distance for initiating public awarness reagrding marathon...

I first came with the "same name, different person" answer but thought that was too easy so then began to over think it, but all I could come up with were ways to cheat and knew that couldn't be it since he did not cheat was stipulated in the question. I completely missed the relay angle. Good one!